Rep. Gonzales
SENIOR Deputy Speaker Aurelio “Dong” Gonzales Jr. criticized Vice President Sara Duterte for allegedly misrepresenting the standard protocols of the House of Representatives, particularly regarding phone usage by detainees.
“It is infuriating to see the Vice President and her allies twisting facts to suit their narrative. The claim that phones were confiscated is a blatant lie,” Gonzales said.
The Pampanga lawmaker explained that detained Office of the Vice President (OVP) Chief of Staff and Undersecretary Zuleika Lopez and her companion voluntarily surrendered their phones after their allotted usage time, in line with the established security protocols.
“These rules are not arbitrary. They are enforced consistently to maintain order and security within the facility. This is not about special treatment or discrimination,” Gonzales emphasized.
“VP Duterte knows this, yet she insists on spreading disinformation to discredit the institution,” he added.
Lopez was detained at the House after being cited in contempt during the House Committee on Good Government and Public Accountability’s investigation into the alleged misuse of ₱612.5 million in confidential funds by the OVP and the Department of Education when Duterte was still Education Secretary.
In a statement, House Secretary General Reginald Velasco clarified that the claim about confiscated phones was entirely false.
Velasco explained that detainees are allowed limited phone usage as part of routine security measures, and that Lopez and her companion complied with these rules, voluntarily surrendering their phones after being informed their time had ended.
These protocols, Velasco noted, are uniformly applied to all detainees without exception.
Gonzales further criticized Duterte for politicizing the matter. He accused her of creating a spectacle by using the situation to attack the institution.
“Instead of respecting the rules, she has chosen to politicize the matter, tarnishing the House’s reputation in the process. Let’s call this what it is: a deliberate attempt to smear the institution to protect her own political interests,” Gonzales said.
The House leader underscored the need to focus on facts and not be swayed by misinformation. “The House remains committed to fairness, due process, and transparency, no matter who tries to undermine it,” he said.
